So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6: 31-34
"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12: 4-5
Looking at the teachings of Jesus collectively on the subject of fear (worry) we see the truths that need to apply in our lives today. The very things Jesus speaks about in these three snippets of Scripture are some of the very things the enemy uses to inject fear into the believer. The first teaching is dealing with material needs. The enemy will often speak into our lives to try and get us to worry about the economy, our jobs, our healthcare, and money. Where will I find a new job? How can I afford to get my children new clothes? How can I find affordable healthcare? Jesus is comparing us to birds that are taken care of by God, so why should we be anxious about material needs? Note the end who can add a single hour to their life by worrying? Once again, it is life that is the focus. The second teaching is similar but ends up teaching about another topic the enemy uses to strike fear into our hearts, the future. Where will I be in five years? Who will take care of my children when I am gone? I think my job is going nowhere? We often are crippled by fears of the future, which is always unknown by definition. Jesus is clearly teaching here that tomorrow will worry about tomorrow. It is today you need to focus on and what God wants for you today! His Word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119: 105) for a reason beloved! We do not need to see more than the next step God wants us to take, period. We are people called to live by faith. The last teaching here is another favorite of the enemy, physical safety. People are afraid of crowds, or heights, or cramped places and the driving fear is one of physical safety. We may look for ways out, always stand by exits, or refuse to travel in rush hour. Once again here, Jesus takes us back to the real issue LIFE. He is teaching here that we fear the wrong thing. There is only one thing we should fear and that is who has the power to throw us into hell after we die. The people in the elevator or on the subway do not have any real power over you. There is no real reason to fear because they cannot throw you into hell. The only one with that power is God! The only thing we should be fearful of then, is God!
This brings us full circle back to the second point from the key verses above. God's love is made perfect in us so that we might have confidence on the Day of Judgment. We know on that day beloved that we are continuing in the eternal life we enjoy today. That is the second point. When we keep focusing on the things of this world the enemy will show us something we can fear. Maybe it is concern for physical needs or physical safety; or maybe it is anxiety about the future. And we allow it into our lives, forgetting that we already are living the eternal life now. The battle is over and the devil already lost. Jesus is teaching us that next time the enemy wants to make you fearful of your future, you just remind him of his! Your future is already set beloved! God's perfect love has guaranteed that your future is secure on the Day of Judgment. Your present is also secure. God knows your needs and will meet all of them according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Your past has been paid for by the blood of Christ and your present and future are secured in His perfect love! Hallelujah!
Lastly, point three in the key verses is that we need to do more than merely know these truths. It takes more than merely repeating these truths. A lot of times for Christians, knowing the right verses is not the problem. Applying them is. The beginning of the key verses from 1John teach us that we need to do more than just know the love God has for us; we need to rely on it. The dictionary defines rely as:
To depend confidently; put trust in
I know it is a hard lesson to absorb but if the anxiety and fear continues to permeate the life of the believer than somewhere, there is a reliance problem. Maybe we can depend on God but not so confidently, when fear is introduced into our minds and hearts. Our confidence might falter in the face of our anxiety. If it was not faltering, then God's perfect love would drive the fear out the Bible says so. Continuing in the key verses we see that reliance is more than saying the right thing and it is more than knowing Scripture. It is about whoever living in love will live in God and God in him. When we allow the fear and anxiety to even gain a foothold in our lives then we are no longer living in Him. Remember, if we were then His perfect love would cast the fear out. Heed the words of the Psalmist:
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91: 1-2
It does not say he who knows the Word or he who goes to church. It says he who dwells in the shelter of God. He who lives in Him. And what is the promise? We will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, hallelujah! That is all the anxious want. They want to rest. That rest will not be found in a bottle of medication. It will not be found in merely quoting Scripture. That rest will be found only in abiding in God, as He abides in you. It will only be found through true reliance upon Him. Reliance means depending confidently in God. When the enemy shows you the anxious future, you show Him God in you. God in you is bigger than your future because He has already guaranteed it. When the enemy shows you fear of your needs for today, you show him God in you. God in you is bigger than your needs today and He has already promised to provide for them. When the enemy shows you fear for your physical safety, you show him God in you. God is the only one we have fear of, because only He has the true control over life.
It is not coincidence that God speaks about His perfect peace during a discussion on anxiety:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7
Do not be anxious about anything beloved! But in everything you do, with thankful prayer, present your requests to God. What is the promise if you do this? God's peace which you cannot even understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! What is your heart and mind being guarded from? From that which would upset your peace! The answer is given away in the previous line anxiety!
And perhaps the most overlooked line in this entire set from Philippians is the most important to remember whenever we come under attack by the enemy and remember that is what it is. It is an attack upon you when the enemy shows you what you can be fearful of. The most important verse to remember is The Lord is near. If the Lord is near then so is His perfect peace. David said that because the Lord is always before him he will not be shaken. You too, should not be shaken beloved. Anxiety is of the enemy. You are of God. God already won. Stop fighting and living in torment. Just truly rely upon the Lord because the Lord is near.
Reverend Anthony Wade May 8, 2009.
